December 24, 2021
"Babe"
He smiled as he watched her compose a message for him. He just finished his last meeting before Christmas. He was actually waiting for her message, wishing they could spend Christmas together. He was fully aware of her plans, she's going to spend the holidays in the US until she became a candidate then typhoon hits. She told him that her kids will just spend the Holidays in the country. He said it will be beneficial for them too.
"Tricia tested positive for covid."
He gasped. He read her message twice. He was also aware that her kids are still in a quarantine hotel waiting for their test results. He didn't expect it would turned out positive for Tricia. He immediately called her.
"Leni—"
"Rod! Si Trish!" Her voice cracks.
"Where are you? Sino kasama mo?"
"Rod, si Trish nag positive sya."
He tried to be calm, "Yes yes, I heard you pero nasaan ka man? May kasama ka ba?"
"Mag-isa lang ako dito sa bahay" she said, "Rod, si Tricia." She was too worried.
"I'm on my way there. Just don't go anywhere, okay?"
"Rod—"
"Just don't go anywhere, Leni!" He cut her off, he needs to be strong for her. "I will be there. Just wait for me. I'll help."
"I'll wait for you."
Call ended.
He immediately went to her condo unit in QC. He was worried too, just by hearing her voice, he knew he has to go to her. She needed him. Minutes later and he reached her door, she was fast to accommodate her. She looks tired. He observed how she was holding her phone tightly, probably messaging her daughters and her family regarding the matter. He knew she was alone too. He tried to be calm. He needed to be calm.
"How's Tricia?" He asked.
She looked at him with sad eyes, "She's still in the quarantine hotel. Naghihintay lang kami ng instructions kung paano ang magiging arrangements since negative yung dalawa."
He nodded, "How's Aika and Jillian?"
She sighed, "Negative naman sila. Pero need pa rin mag quarantine."
He nodded. "How are you?"
She looked at his eyes, she suddenly became teary. He was fast to hugged her. She sobbed a bit. "Everything will be alright. We'll do everything we can. Okay?"
She nodded, still burying her face on his neck.
He kissed her hair, "We'll get through this together."
"Thank you." She whispered, hugging him tighter.
"Anything for you." He responded.
---
December 25, 2021
They did spent the Christmas together. Although it was not the Christmas he imagined, he still counted it as special day for them. They didn't get enough sleep as she communicate with her kids until 2 in the morning. She also contacted their relatives in the US asking what's safe to do, luckily a lot them are doctors. He managed to talked to some friends asking if they can permit Tricia to continue her quarantine at home, but it was a no. She said it's okay, they must follow the protocols. He just insisted that Tricia must be transported to Bicol so that Aika and Jillian could do home quarantine at the comfort of their home in Magarao. He said it would be best if they would be home in Bicol as COVID-19 casses continue to surge in NCR. She agreed.
"Sino man kasama mo dyan?" He asked her through phone call after he received a message that she's in Magarao already.
"Ako lang tapos PSG. Kakadating ko lang." She said, arranging her daughters clothes.
"Sigurado ka ba na kaya mo mag-isa dyan? Huwag ka magpagod masyado." He was worried for her too. He knew how tired she was.
"Okay lang ako. Kaya ko na to." She said. "Huwag kang pupunta dito." She knew he would insist to come too.
"Magbisita lang ako dyan kahit ilang oras lang. Kapag siguro wala man na akong masyadong meeting." He shared.
She clicks her tongue, "Huwag na nga. Ang tigas na naman ng ulo mo eh. Hindi ka nga puwede maglabas labas ngayon kasi grabe ang cases. Hindi ka puwede mahawa."
He sighed. He's always willing to take the risk for her but she wouldn't allow it. "Sige na sige na. Hindi na ako magpunta dyan pero update mo ako palagi. Get some rest too."
"I'll keep you posted." She said.
"Okay. I love you!" He uttered.
"I love you too." She almost whispered.
Call ended.
He couldn't keep himself calm knowing she's just alone in Bicol taking care of her daughters. He also knew she would have to work and oversee her office's relief operations in many parts of the country. He understood the circumstances that they are in, and sometimes he wish it was different.
Back in 2016 when they were still getting to know each other, he thought what they are having is just having fun, just a short time. Until he realized that it isn't. What they have is something he would consider his redemption in love. It feels like he was given another chance to do right in love. Just like other relationships, theirs is too complicated to handle.
He reminisced the time when they admitted to each other that the feelings they had for each other was mutual, but agreed that they will not put any labels on it. Just to avoid too much complications given their circumstances. After a year, they both realized it's better to give it a shot. They decided to put some strings thinking no label relationships are much more complicated. He remembered having that one particular conversation with her before.
"Are we in a motorcycle with only one helmet?" He asked.
"What?" She frowned.
"It's just that, last time we did this, did us, there were no strings. It was uncomplicated." He shared.
"And now there are strings. And you don't want strings." She assessed.
"No. No. No. It's not that. It's that, our children are all stable and I just want to make sure that you and I we're not being—"
She cut him off. "Reckless. "
He sighed. "Right. "
There was a long pause until her phone beeped indicating a text message. "Let's talk later, okay?" She said after reading the message, "I have a speaking engagement."
He flashed a weak smile. "Yeah. Take care."
Now that he thought about it, all the things that happened in the last 5 years with her. He would say it was all worth it. She was worth it. He knew from the beginning that their relationship is doomed from the beginning like a Maserati driven through the dead end, it was fast but it was meant to crush and burn. Although this was the case from the beginning, he would keep going as long as he's with her.
Loving her is red.
💖💙
